Anything new in Visalia?

Heading to Visalia this weekend and wondering if anybody's got any new-ish recommendations? (I've seen the previous threads, but everything's six months or older.)

I don't know what I'm hoping for, exactly, except it's always nice to tear hubby away from Taylor's Hot Dogs. Any great new Mexican? I heard there's a new cupcake joint around Church & Main and I'm trying to think of what it means that cupcakes have made it to Visalia. The times are changing, indeed.

mrs. darcy in California

Anything? Anything at all in El Mirage?

I'll admit it: I'd never even heard of El Mirage. And now my brother-in-law has to go there for work. Is there anything chowish there? I think there must be something, so enlighten me, please!

mrs. darcy in California

Teach Me How to Go to a Taco Truck (moved from L.A. board)

Wow -- thanks so much everyone . It seems simple -- and yet it's c omplicated, too! I can't wait to get started. Will prob. go with my kid but without my husband -- we'll search for the veggie-friendly stuff once we get acclimated.

mrs. darcy in General Chowhounding Topics

Teach Me How to Go to a Taco Truck (moved from L.A. board)

Hi. I'm Mrs. Darcy and I've never been to a taco truck. I'm ashamed of myself. I've always just been a little too shy, and a little too non-Spanish-speaking to have figured it out before now, and IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY.

So here are my questions.

1 -- I live in the Studio City area. Where should I go, relatively nearby, to try a taco truck? Bonus points for a slightly non-dodgy neighborhood -- I'd like to bring my six-year-old with me and feel safe. But I am almost always comfortable in the North Hollywood-Van Nuys nexus.

2 -- What will we order? The hitch -- we def. don't want pork, and I probably don't want beef, though my kid will eat it. Do all the good trucks offer chicken tacos or other chicken entrees?

3 -- Are there every any vegetarian entrees for my husband to try? Quesadillas?

4 -- How do we order? What is the process?

HELP ME, 'HOUNDS!

mrs. darcy in General Chowhounding Topics

Moules Frites Monday: La Fritte or Bowery?

Okay, the response was overwhelming...so we're going to Cafe Stella.

mrs. darcy in Los Angeles Area

Moules Frites Monday: La Fritte or Bowery?

My pal and I both want moules frites tomorrow night, and for complicated reasons it has to be either at La Fritte or The Bowery. Which is better? We've had them at La Fritte before, and loved them. Neither of us has ever been to The Bowery. Please advise!

mrs. darcy in Los Angeles Area

Is there ANYTHING decent at Dodger Stadium?

Thanks for the insights. Sadly I had no extra time to stop somewhere beforehand, so I went to the stadium with nothing in my purse except some sugar-free mints. My kid ate a Dodger dog, regular fries and, later, a vanilla ice cream in a "hat," as he puts it. My meal? Just a large water, and I paid freaking $5.75 for it. Next time I will be better prepared.

mrs. darcy in Los Angeles Area

Is there ANYTHING decent at Dodger Stadium?

I forgot to add -- for various reasons I can't stop somewhere else on the way. Dinner tonight has to be at the stadium itself.

mrs. darcy in Los Angeles Area

Is there ANYTHING decent at Dodger Stadium?

I went through the archives and didn't see anything from this season. And...I'm heading there in about two hours. So is there anything decent to eat? I used to go for 1 dodger dog a year, but the last time I ate one (probably three years ago) it was so gross I never tried another.

And the ubiquitous stadum-style "nachos"? I'm pretty sure they were invented by Satan.

So what else is there?

mrs. darcy in Los Angeles Area

Tama closed - need family sushi joint

Thanks for both those recommendations. We'll give them both a try.

mrs. darcy in Los Angeles Area

Tama closed - need family sushi joint

Tama Sushi -- I know some loved it, some didn't. I liked the food a lot, but what I adored was the very family-friendly vibe. My 5-year-old loves sushi, and is pretty well behaved so it's not too hard to take him to most places, but at Tama in particular they were very sweet to him.

So of the sushi joints in Studio City & Sherman Oaks, what's the next best for our family? Obviously a place like Nozawa is out -- we need good sushi and a welcoming vibe.

Thanks in advance.

mrs. darcy in Los Angeles Area

Sante La Brea w/Ramsay Treatment?

Well I did pop in about a month ago with a girlfriend. The restaurant was almost empty and the service was a little weird...it included such stellar moments as a server handing me my salad while saying, "This is the soup." We asked to see the Ramsay menu, and it looked good, but they're not really serving off it right now. Perhaps they're waiting for the show to air? At any rate, our dinner was fine -- nothing special, and sadly that indian place next door smelled so good that we regretted our choice of venue. They have rehabbed the outdoor patio, though, and that is a nice place to sit, even if the tables had gotten a bit dusty. Lastly I will add that the parking situation isn't quite as dire as you noted, but perhaps they need to increase signage -- in the back, next to the two spaces you saw, is the ramp down to the underground parking lot.

mrs. darcy in Los Angeles Area

Sante La Brea w/Ramsay Treatment?

I drove by Sante La Brea and see that they've got a sign out touting their new Gordon Ramsay-directed menu. Apparantly they are on the new season of his show, Kitchen Nightmares. Their website says the new menu is coming soon -- but has anyone been to the restaurant and checked it out?

mrs. darcy in Los Angeles Area

Anything to eat/drink INSIDE the Pantages?

Yeah, we're going to see Wicked, and I see all the previous posts about places to eat. But is there anything inside the theater? A nice bar, perhaps? With some small plates to nosh on before the show? Or am I just being too hopeful?

mrs. darcy in Los Angeles Area